Failure Analysis of Composite Curved Beam with Initial Delamination Damage

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of common manufacturing delamination defects in composite curved beams, as well as delamination issues arising from cutting processes in engineering practice. Curved beams, widely used as connecting components in the aviation industry, are susceptible to delamination under out-of-plane loads. This study employs three-dimensional finite element methods and progressive damage failure analysis to examine the impact of delamination damage on the load-bearing capacity of curved beam structures under four-point bending loads. The investigation focuses on three key factors: delamination size, the position of delamination along the thickness direction, and the in-plane position of delamination. The results indicate that for the orthotropic symmetric layup used in this study, the closer the initial delamination is to the midplane of the curved beam, the more significant the reduction in load-bearing capacity. Delamination in the lower part of the beam has a greater impact than in the upper part, and edge delamination poses a greater threat to the structure compared to center-width delamination. These findings can offer valuable technical support for engineering tolerance management.